Heiligendamm – popular wellness break destination for over 200 years

The spot where Duke Friedrich Franz I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin bathed back in 1793 is still a popular destination for health-conscious holidaymakers today.

Heiligendamm is the oldest seaside resort in the whole of Germany. It was once frequented by the German aristocracy and the Russian tsar and his family. Duke Friedrich Franz was the first to bring Heiligendamm to prominence and its name has an interesting history. According to legend, the dam (as in Heiligendamm), which originated in the Ice Age, was stacked up by the rough Baltic Sea in answer to the prayers of Cistercian monks. In recent times Heiligendamm has attracted political attention as the venue for a G8 summit conference. Heiligendamm was the first resort on Germany's Baltic coast in which the benefits of salt water were harnessed for therapeutic purposes. They continue to be used today. In addition to the specific healing benefits of the sea, the local climate reputedly impacts positively on overall health. What an excellent idea to combine a seaside holiday and its associated thalasso treatments with scenic walks, strolls in the conservation area and treatments at the spa clinic in Bad Doberan. The climate is especially suitable for those with respiratory complaints and allergies, since the air is low in dust and soothingly moist from the sea. Variations in temperature are pleasingly minimal.